18-10-2024 (BANGKOK)Â Thailand has announced an extension of the waiver for TM6 immigration forms for foreign tourists entering through designated land and sea checkpoints. The extension, which will run until 30 April 2025, covers 16 key border crossings and is expected to significantly reduce congestion while promoting economic growth through increased visitor numbers.
The decision, originally implemented on 15 April 2024, has been met with enthusiasm from tourism industry stakeholders. Songchai Mungprasithichai, President of Songkhla’s Tourism Promotion Association, projects that the waiver could lead to a substantial 50% increase in daily tourist arrivals from Malaysia alone, potentially surpassing pre-pandemic figures recorded in 2019.
Among the crucial checkpoints benefiting from this extension are Aranyaprathet on the Cambodian border, Chiang Saen bordering Myanmar, and Padang Besar at the Malaysian frontier. These gateways are vital arteries for cross-border tourism and trade, making the streamlined entry process particularly significant for regional economic cooperation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which proposed the extension, is concurrently developing an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system. This innovative platform is set to replace the traditional TM6 form, allowing tourists from 93 countries to register for visa-free entry online. The system will generate a QR code for use at automatic gates, further expediting the entry process.
In tandem with these developments, the Ministry of Tourism is exploring the integration of a tourism fee into the ETA system. The proposed fee structure would see air travellers paying 300 THB and land or sea arrivals charged 150 THB. This initiative aims to balance the need for tourism revenue with maintaining Thailand’s attractiveness as a destination.
Mungprasithichai emphasised the importance of developing new tourist attractions in southern Thailand to capitalise on the expected influx of visitors. He also advocated for a convenient method of collecting the tourism fee at border checkpoints, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to tourism management.
